Radiator filler



' March 1, 1927. 1,619,498

w. F. COM'BS' ET AL RADIATOR FILLER Filed Dec. 1924 j I 2 Sheets-Sheet. 1

Wl'iNESSES a I INVENTORS 4 W 1. Combs and I Jim geek,

ATTORNEYS Margh 1,1927.

w. F. coMBs ET A RADIATOR FILLER Filed Dec. 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I 7 INVENTOR' 80211159 and ATTORNEYS WITNESSES 6% I I Patented Mar. 1, 1927. Q

* UNITED STATES 1,519,498 PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM FLQYD COMBS AND JOSEPH MAI-IONRY BECK, OF EUREKA, UTAH.

RADIATOR FILLER.

Application filed December 30, 1924. Serial No. 758,902.

This invention relates to a funnel aiding in filling a radiator and has for its object the provision of an ornamental device in the shape of a bell which will ordinarily be positioned to present a bell to view but which may be manually or automatically revolved on a pivot and positioned so that the upper reduced end of the bell may be inverted and engage over an opening in the radiator cap whereby the radiator may be filled with water with little danger of spilling the water.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a bell shaped funnel adapted to be inverted and locked to an opening in the radiator cap so that an opening in the reduced end of the bell shaped member will register with the opening in the radiator cap in order that the radiator may be filled without spilling the water.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a funnel in the shape of a bell which is adapted to be automatically released when the temperature of the water in the radiator reaches a predetermined degree so thatthe driver of the car will be warned of the condition of the water relative to temperature and level and also providing a means whereby the radiator may be readily filled and without spilling the water over the radiator.

This invention will be best understood from a consideration of the following detailed description, in view of the accompanying drawing forming a part of the specification; nevertheless it is to be understood that the invention is not confined to the disclosure, being susceptible of such changes and modifications which shall define no material departure from the salient features of the invention as expressed in the appended claims.

In the drawings:

,Figure 1 is a view in elevation of a tunnel in the shape of a bell which is connected to the radiator cap of an automobile.

Figure 2 is a vertical section of the filling device.

Figure 3 is a horizontal section taken along the line 3-3 of Figure 2.

' Figure 4 is a horizontal section taken along the line 44 of Figure 1. Figure 5 is a vertical section of the radiator cap and its automatic closure taken along the line 5-5 of Figure 4. .Figure 6 is a .view in elevation partly in section, of a modified form of a filling device.

Figure 7 is an enlarged vertical section of the filling device shown in Figure 6. Referring more particularly to the drawlngs, 1 designates a radiator provided with a threaded nipple 2 adapted to receive the i threads of a cap or closure'3. The cap is provided with an enlargement 4 having an opening 5 which alines with the passage 6 and cap 3 and as shown more particularly in Figure 5 the enlargement is cut on an arc .1

of a circle as shown at 7 to receive the arcuately shaped cover 8. The side edgesof the cover are bevelled as shown, at 9 and receive within the undercut grooves 10 formed in the enlargement 4. The spring 11 which is secured to the closure plate 8 and the en largement 4 is adapted to cause the cover 8 to be automatically closed after the same has been released in open position.

A circular bracket 12 is secured to the op posite ends of the enlargement 4 and is provided with inwardly projecting trunnions 13 in which bolts 14 are threaded. A coil spring 15 embracing the bolts engages the outer end of the trunnion 13 and the outer wall of a bell shaped funnel 16. The upper reduced end olthe bell shaped funnel 16 is sheared off on the arc of a circle as shown at 17 and is adapted to engage a member 18 having a correspondingly curved portion 19 so that when the bell shaped funnel is in inoperative position the curved portion 17 of the bell will be in engagement with the curved portion 19 of the top and the bell will remain in vertical position.

A spring pressed lug 20 on the top portion I of the bell is adapted to engage a notch 21 in the upper reduced end of the bell for locking the bell in inoperative position.

The upper sheared end of the bell shaped funnel 16 is curved on an arc toconform to the curvature of the closure plate 8 so that when the bell is inverted as shown in Figure 2 the opening 22 at the upper end of the bell will register with the opening 5 in the 24 having a bevelled edge as shown at. 25

which is adapted to engage the undercut grooves 10 of the enlargement 4 whereby the bell shaped member is held in an operative andan inverted position.

The headed lugs 26 embraced by a coil spring 27 adapted to be moved against the tension of the spring for releasing the members 24 from the undercut grooves'so that the bell shaped funnel may be again oscillated to its normal inoperative position, as shown in Figure 1.

Referring more particularly to Figures 6 and 7, :the lower threaded end 28 of a radiator cap is screwed into the threadedopening int-he nipple 2 of the radiator 1. This cap is providedwith an enlargement 29 to which is connected at diametrically opposite points a hollow tube 30 forming a bracket for pivotally mounting the bell shaped funnel 31. The bracket is provided with trunnions 32 carrying pivot bolts 33 with springs 34 embracing the bolts and located bet-ween the outer free ends of the trunnions 32 and the outer walls of the bell shaped funnel 31. a The enlargement of the cap has a passage 35 in alinement with the passage 36 in the threaded end 28 of the cap and passages 37 through the enlargement 39 connect the hollow circular pipe 30 with the interior of the radiator 1. The enlargement is provided with undercut grooves 38 adapted to receive the bevelled edges of the a-rcuately shaped cover 39 which is adapted to close the opening 35 in the cap.

The top of the bell shaped funnel is provided with an opening 40 adapted to register with the opening in the enlargement 29 when the bell shape-d tunnel in operative position for filling the radiator. The upper end of the bell shaped funnel is also curved on an are which conforms to the curvature of the cover 34 so that when the fun nel is revolved -on its pivot and swung to its operti ve position the upper curved end 41 will neatly engage the curved top of the en-V largement 29 of the radiator eap.

At the rear ofthe bell 31 is provided three bars 42, designed in imitation of the beams which support the Liberty bell, upon a hollow beam 43. The top of the bell is adapted to rest upon the bars 42 and for determining the inoperative position of the tunnel. The

hollow beam 43 is in communication with the hollow pipe 30-so that when the water in the radiator gets sufiiciently hot to create steam steam will circulate through the hollow beam 43 and effect a thermostat 44 for operating a rod 45, a bell crank lever 46 and a lock bolt 47 which engages a notch 48 in the upper end 41 of the funnel 31. The thermostat comprises a casing having a diaphragm 49 at one end and secured to the operating rod 45. i i

The ends of the tubular bracket 30 are removably secured to the enlargement 129 of the radiator cap. The closure 89 for the opening of the radiator cap is provided with a spring 50 for maintaining the cap-closed.

In the constructionshown in Figures 6 and 7 the device is automatically operated by the thermostat 44 when the temperature of the water in the radiator has been raised to a certain degree foroperating the same when the rod 45 is operated to release thebolt 47 and due *to the tact that the weight-ed. the upper end of the funnel is greater than the lower end the funnel will automatically be revolved upon its pivot and drop into position into the opening over the radiator cap so that thedriver in the car will :be warned that the temperature of the water has reached a predetermined degree and that certain steps will. "be necessary in order to rectify the condition.

The tunnel in either case is in the shape of a bell which in an inoperative position gives a decorative effect to the automobile whether the bell is of the design shown in Figure l or of the design shown in Figures 6 and 7 which represents the Liberty bell, and while not only being ornamental is useful in preventing the overflow of the dis charge ofwa ter upon the radiator.

That we claim is: 1. The combination of a radiator cap and a filling bell for the radiatorof automobile, said cap having an opening, a slide for closing said opening .a bracket means for pivotally mounting the bell on the bracket a so that the greater portion of the bell will be located above the pivotal point of: said bell, said bell having an opening at its upper end adapted to register when inverted with the opening in the cap, and means for looking the bell in an inoperative position, said bell when released being rocked by gravity and inverted, with theopening in the upper end registering with the openmg in the cap.

2. The combination of a radiator cap and a filling bell for the radiator of an automo-' bile, said cap having 'an opening, a slide for closing said opening, a bracket. means tor pivotally mounting the hell on the bracket, said bell having an open-111g at its upper end adapted to register when inverted with the openmg in the cap, means for locking the bell in an inoperative position, and mea-ns adapted to be atfected by the heat of the radiator for causing release of the locking means to permit the bell toswing upon its pivot to an operative filling position. i

3. The combination of a radiator cap and a filling bell for the radiator of rancautomo- J bile, said cap having an opening, a slide tor closing saidopening, a bracket, means for pivotally mounting the bell-on the bracket. said bell having an opening at its upper end adapted to register when inverted-with the at:

opening in the cap, and a guide in the cap to receive said slide, said bell being provided ell) with lugs adapted to engage the guide and maintain the bell in an operative filling position.

4c. The combination of a radiator cap and a filling bell for the radiator oi an automobile, said cap having an opening, a slide't'or closing said opening, a bracket, means for pivotally mounting the bell on the bracket, said bell having an opening at its upper end adapted to register when inverted with the opening in the cap, and a guide in the cap to receive said slide, said bell being provided with lugs adapted to engage the guide and maintain the bell in an operative filling position, and means for causing said lugs to be released from the guides.

5. The combination of a radiator cap and a filling bell for the radiator of an automobile. said cap having an opening, a slide for closing said opening, a bracket disposed in a vertical plane above the cap, means for pivotally mounting the bell on the bracket so that the bell is located directly above the cap, said bell having an opening at its upper end adapted to register when inverted with the opening in the cap, and means for maintaining the slide closed.

6. The combination of a radiator, a radiator cap and a filling bell for said radiator, a. bracket, said bell being pivotally mounted in the bracket, said cap having an opening, the bell being provided with an opening and adapted when inverted to aline with the opening in the cap, means for locking the bell in an inoperative position. and means actuated upon a predetermined temperature of the fluid in the radiator for releasing the locking means to permit the bell to fall to an operative position with the opening in the cap.

7. The combination of a radiator, a radiator cap and a filling bell for said radiator, a bracket, said bell being pivotally mounted in the bracket, said cap having an opening, the bell being provided with an opening and adapted, when inverted, to aline with the opening in the cap, said bracket being hollow and in open communication with the radiator, means for locking the bell in normal inoperative position, and means adapted to be affected by the heated fluid from the radiator for releasing the locking means.

8. The combination of a radiator, a radiator cap and a filling bell for said radiator, a bracket, said bell being pivotally mounted in the bracket, said cap having an opening, the bell being provided with an opening and adapted, when inverted, to aline with the opening in the cap, said bracket being hollow and in open communication with the radiator, means for locking the bell in normal inoperative position, means adapted to be afi'ected by the heated fluid from the radiator for releasing the locking means, a conduit in communication with the hollow bracket, thermal means in the conduit and connected with the locking means for -causing release of the locking means when the fluid in the radiator has reached a predetermined temperature whereby the bell will i automatically fall into operative position with the radiator cap.

9. The combination of a radiator and a filling bell for the radiator provided with an opening adapted when inverted to register with an opening in the top of the radiator, a bracket pivotally supporting the bell whereby said bell will normally tend to fall into operative filling position, means for locking the bell in an inoperative normal position said bracket being provided with a conduit in open communication with the radiator, a thermostatic means connected with the conduit and adapted to be affected by the heated fiuid from the radiator, means connecting the thermostatic means with the locking means whereby operation of the thermostatic means will cause release of the locking means and permit the bell to automatically revolve on its pivot and cause alinement of the opening of the bell with the opening in the radiator.

WILLIAM FLOYD COMBS. JOSEPH MAHONRY BECK. 

